Florence and Pisa from Rome: Enjoy a Full Day Small Group Tour
Description
Experience the ultimate day of Italian art and history on a full-day tour from Rome to Pisa and Florence! In Pisa, marvel at the iconic Leaning Tower from the outside and explore the dazzling Baptistery and Duomo, all gleaming in white marble. Then, head to Florence, the legendary cradle of the Renaissance. After a stop for lunch at your own expense, join your expert guide for a walking tour through the city’s artistic treasures. See masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and Michelangelo, including the world-famous David at the Accademia. Explore the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery. Stroll through Piazza della Signoria and admire the historic Ponte Vecchio spanning the Arno River. End your day at Piazzale Michelangelo with a jaw dropping panoramic view of Florence....a perfect finale to an unforgettable Italian adventure.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enjoy the marvels inside the Piazza dei Miracoli, 4 monuments: The Baptistery (famous for its echo), the Cathedral, the Leaning Tower, the Cemetery. Take a souvenir photo with the background of the leaning Toore that you are holding.
The Pisa Baptistery of St. John (Italian: Battistero di San Giovanni) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical building in Pisa, Italy. Construction started in 1152 to replace an older baptistery, and when it was completed in 1363, it became the second building, in chronological order, in the Piazza dei Miracoli. The shape of the building, the material used, the distribution of the interior spaces given by the columns and the space between the two domes make the Baptistery create an incredible effect of acoustic resonance, better known as Echo. The sound spreads throughout the space, like a continuous wave, rising in tonality to the point of suggesting the presence of an angelic choir. Every half hour the Baptistery staff performs a small demonstration for tourists: the effect is not to be missed.
Pisa Cathedral is a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Italy. It is a notable example of Romanesque architecture, in particular the style known as Pisan Romanesque
Admire the most famous bell tower in the world from the outside, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, known worldwide for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is situated behind the Pisa Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in the city's Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), after the cathedral and the Pisa Baptistry.
The visit includes the Accademy Gallery where inside is the David, Michelangelo's famous sculpture. Michelangelo’s David at the “Accademia in addition to the work of David, there are also other sculptures and a large collection of paintings by Florentine artists.
The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Visit from outside), with its beautiful dome projected by Brunelleschi, is the cathedral of Florence. Construction began in 1296, Gothic style to a design of Arnolfo di Cambio and was structurally completed by 1436, with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered by white, and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival façade by Emilio De Fabris.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni stands in front of the Cathedral and is the ancient religious and civil center of the city, as well as a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city: it probably dates back to the 5th century, and took on its current appearance in the 11th-12th century. With an octagonal plan, it is covered on the outside with white and green Prato marble with geometric motifs and has an eight-section roof; the decoration was enriched in the 16th century with statues and bas-reliefs. The three gilded bronze doors are the work of Andrea Pisano (south door, built around 1330), and Lorenzo Ghiberti (north, 1402/25 and east, 1425/52). The east door, with Stories from the Old Testament, opens towards the Cathedral and was defined by Michelangelo as the Gates of Paradise; all the doors are copies, the originals are kept in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
Adjacent to the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the Bell Tower designed by Giotto (visit outside). Giotto's Bell Tower is the majestic bell tower of the Cathedral and one of the masterpieces of Italian Gothic. The Bell Tower has a square base of approximately 15 meters per side with corner reinforcements that rise up to the horizontal cantilevered crown located at a height of 84.7 metres.
Piazza della Signoria has been at the center of Florence's political life since the 14th century. The Square has seen important historical events and great triumphs take place, such as the return of the Medici in 1530. The famous sculptures located in Piazza della Signoria have references to the political events of Florence. The David (the original is located in the Accademia Gallery) was created by Michelangelo and positioned in front of Palazzo Vecchio to symbolize the power of the Florentine Republic in contrast with the tyranny of the Medici. Hercules and Cacus (1534) by Bandinelli instead symbolizes the physical power of the family.
Built near a Roman-era crossing, the Ponte Vecchio was until 1218 the only bridge that crossed the Arno in Florence. Above Ponte Vecchio you can see a part of the beautiful Vasari Corridor. This corridor, built in 1565 by Giorgio Vasari, passes just above the goldsmith shops that currently stand on either side of the bridge. Commissioned by the Medici, it allowed them to move from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti without having to cross the streets of Florence, in complete safety. At the time of the construction of the Corridor, the butchers' shops were gathered on the Ponte Vecchio, whose activity probably disturbed the passage of the Medici, who in 1593 had them moved, replacing them with the more "decorous" goldsmith shops.
Piazzale Michelangelo is the most evocative point of Florence. From here you can admire the whole city with its splendid monuments. This square was dedicated to the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo and the copy of David is located in the center of the square next to the four allegories of the Medici Chapels of San Lorenzo.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
- Free Pick-up and drop-off to the Hotels, Appartments, Bed&breakfast, accomodations - The address must to be provided on the reservation. - Please contact customer services one day before the tour to confirm the pickup time. - Please wait in the hotel lobby or outside your accommodation 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The duration of the tour may take longer during the high season months due to heavier traffic.
- Dress code is smart casual
- Provide the Correct address of your accommodation , hotel, B&B
- Provide the correct phone number and international country code
- Pickup and drop off included service at Hotels, Apartments and B&B
- Check that you have provided all the requested information
- Emergency number also operational via whatsapp
- One day before the tour, call to confirm the pick up.
Reviews(771)
Amazing! Driver was very safe, tour guide in the van was friendly and interacted with everyone. The guide at Florence was outstanding! Welcome Italy Tours is five stars!
It was a long day traveling from Rome but the guide and driver made it all worth while. They showed us things we had never seen before and we had been to both locations multiple times.
We had the BEST time! Our guide Maria was absolutely incredible! She was so knowledgeable, so friendly and took so many photos for us without us even asking! Maria knew every great photo spot and was so happy to help take the photos for us! She had so much information not only of Pisa and Florence but areas along the way! We couldn’t have loved it more and are so glad we got to meet her and have such an easy experience and relaxing day! Couldn’t recommend more, in fact I’ve already recommended this experience to several friends that are coming to Rome this fall! Thank you Maria for giving us such a relaxing, enjoyable trip!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are absolutely delighted to hear that you had such an amazing experience with Maria. It is especially rewarding to know that her knowledge, enthusiasm, and thoughtful attention helped make your day so enjoyable and stress-free. We love hearing that she not only shared fascinating information about Pisa, Florence, and the surrounding regions, but also helped you capture beautiful memories of your trip through her photography suggestions and assistance. Creating unforgettable experiences is exactly what we strive for, and we are thrilled that Maria exceeded your expectations. Your recommendation means a great deal to us, and we are especially grateful that you have already recommended the experience to friends planning to visit Rome. We will be sure to share your kind words with Maria, who will be delighted to know how much her efforts were appreciated. Thank you for choosing to travel with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Italy.
It was an early start butt the driver and tour guide made it fun .she was so informed about pisa and took photos of us at the tower and during the tour so we have lots of memories.
Thank you for your lovely review. We are delighted to hear that, despite the early start, you had such an enjoyable experience. It is wonderful to know that your driver and tour guide helped make the journey fun and engaging throughout the day. We are especially pleased that your guide’s knowledge of Pisa enhanced your visit and that she took the time to capture photos for you, helping create lasting memories of your trip. Thank you for choosing to travel with us, and we hope to welcome you again on another unforgettable experience in Italy.
Guide very kind but not so knowledgeable about some of the sites in Pisa so a little disappointing and the guy in Florence was okay but still a good trip. Lynn concern was the driver who was driving extremely fast all the waythere and all the way back from Florence and Pisa. Even allowing for the way the Italians drive it was a little scary.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the trip overall and found both guides kind and helpful. We are, however, sorry to learn that some aspects of the commentary did not fully meet your expectations. We would like to point out that all of our guides are professionally trained and selected for their knowledge, experience, and ability to provide an engaging experience to our guests. Regarding your concern about the driving, safety is our absolute priority. All of our drivers are fully licensed professionals who strictly comply with traffic regulations and speed limits at all times. While driving conditions and traffic flow on Italian motorways may sometimes feel different from what visitors are accustomed to in their home countries, we can assure you that our drivers operate within the legal limits and according to the highest safety standards. We appreciate your comments, as guest feedback is always valuable, and we are glad that despite these concerns you were still able to enjoy your visit to Pisa and Florence. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again on a future tour in Italy.
We had a wonderful time on this small group tour. They picked us up and dropped us off at our air b&b. This was so helpful and convenient. On the way to Pisa our guide, Nariman, gave us facts and information about what we would be seeing and about Italy. It was helpful and very informative. When we got to Pisa, Nariman showed us around and made sure we heard the acoustic sounds in the Pisa Baptistery. This is a must! I was not expecting it and it was a pleasant surprise! Nariman made sure we got our classic Pisa photos! He even helped make sure we were in the right positions. Then we headed to Florence. We had an amazing tour seeing all the sights and learning new information. Then Nariman took us around to see the extras! This was what made the tour! We had a great day and want to go back to Florence again! Massimiliano 2 was our driver and did an outstanding job navigating the cities!
Thank you for your wonderful and detailed review. We are delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable experience exploring Pisa and Florence with us. It is especially rewarding to know that Nariman’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and attention to detail helped make the day both informative and memorable. We are pleased that you enjoyed discovering the unique acoustics of the Pisa Baptistery, one of the hidden gems of the city, and that Nariman helped you capture those classic Leaning Tower photos that become treasured memories for so many visitors. We are also delighted that you enjoyed Florence and appreciated the extra sights and insights that made the experience even more special. Hearing that the tour inspired you to return to Florence is one of the greatest compliments we could receive. A special thank you as well for recognizing Massimiliano’s professionalism and driving skills. We will be sure to share your kind words with both Nariman and Massimiliano. Thank you for choosing to travel with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in Italy.
A big thank you to our two guides for these wonderful tours of Florence and Pisa. Thanks to their passion, knowledge, and numerous anecdotes, we discovered these cities from a unique and very enriching perspective. Their kindness, availability, and valuable advice made our stay even more enjoyable. We leave with wonderful memories and a desire to return! Thank you for your professionalism and good humor throughout these visits. We highly recommend it!
Merci beaucoup pour votre magnifique commentaire. Nous sommes ravis d'apprendre que vous avez apprécié vos visites de Florence et de Pise et que nos guides ont contribué à rendre cette expérience si spéciale. C’est un véritable plaisir de savoir que leur passion, leurs connaissances et leurs anecdotes vous ont permis de découvrir ces villes sous un angle unique et enrichissant. Nous sommes également heureux que leur gentillesse, leur disponibilité et leurs conseils aient rendu votre séjour encore plus agréable. Votre satisfaction est notre plus belle récompense. Merci pour votre confiance et pour votre recommandation. Nous espérons avoir le plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau lors d’un prochain voyage en Italie afin de vous faire découvrir d’autres merveilles de notre magnifique pays.
Our tour guide was knowledgeable friendly, funny and very efficient in getting us through the tourists . Highly recommended!
Thank you for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your day in Florence and Pisa. It is especially rewarding to know that your tour guide’s knowledge, friendliness, sense of humor, and professionalism helped make the experience both enjoyable and seamless. Navigating some of Italy’s most popular destinations can be challenging, so we are pleased that everything was handled efficiently, allowing you to make the most of your time. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing to travel with us. We hope to welcome you again on another unforgettable experience in Italy
We had 5 people booked on this so we got a private car. We were picked up early and had a driver and guide that were with us. It took 3 1/2 hours to get to Pisa with a gas station Cafe stop. Then another hour and a half to Florence. In Florence we ate lunch and had about 2 minutes to shop before meeting another group and local guide. There were 9 of us total. The tour was great. My only regret is that we didn’t have much free time. Afterwards it took about 3 1/2 hours to get back with another stop. I would definitely recommend this tour especially if you have a group of 4-5 people!
Thank you for your detailed review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that having a private vehicle for your group made the experience even more comfortable and enjoyable. It is wonderful to know that you appreciated both the assistance of your tour leader throughout the day and the local guide in Florence. We understand your wish for a little more free time in Florence. As the tour combines two iconic destinations in a single day while traveling from Rome, we carefully balance guided visits, sightseeing, and travel time to ensure guests can experience the highlights of both Pisa and Florence. We are pleased that, despite the full schedule, you found the experience worthwhile and would recommend it to others, especially larger groups. Thank you for choosing to travel with us, and we hope to welcome you again on another memorable adventure in Italy.
We had an absolutely wonderful experience on our day trip to Pisa and Florence from Rome. Our guide, Maria, was exceptional. She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating throughout the entire journey. As someone trying to practice speaking Italian, I especially appreciated how patient and encouraging she was. She even took the time to help teach me some Italian along the way, which made the experience even more memorable. Our driver, Fabio, was equally fantastic. He was friendly, professional, and made us feel completely safe throughout the long drive. On top of that, he had a great sense of humor and brought a lot of personality to the trip. In Pisa, we loved learning about the history of the city and the famous Piazza dei Miracoli. Maria did an excellent job explaining Pisa's contributions to science and mathematics, including fascinating stories about Galileo and Fibonacci, both of whom have strong ties to the area. She was also kind enough to help us capture the perfect "holding up the Leaning Tower" photo, which we will treasure for years to come. In Florence, we visited the Accademia Gallery with Giovanni and had the opportunity to see Michelangelo's original David statue in person. It was truly breathtaking and one of the highlights of our trip. Giovanni was also incredibly knowledgeable about the art history of Florence which enriched our trip to the Accademia. He also spoke some Spanish and Portuguese so I was able to converse with him in other languages; truly special guy. We then enjoyed free time exploring the heart of Florence before meeting back up with Maria at the Ponte Vecchio, where we learned about the powerful Medici family and their lasting influence on the city. The final stop at Piazzale Michelangelo provided a stunning panoramic view of Florence and was the perfect way to end the day before returning to Rome. This tour was the perfect combination of history, culture, education, and fun. Maria, Giovanni, and Fabio made the entire experience special, and we would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to visit Pisa and Florence. Thank you all for helping create such wonderful memories!
Thank you for your wonderful and detailed review. We are truly delighted to hear that your day trip to Pisa and Florence was such a memorable experience. It is especially rewarding to know that Maria’s knowledge, warmth, and enthusiasm helped make the journey so enjoyable. We are thrilled that she was able to support your interest in practicing Italian and add a personal touch that made the day even more special. We are equally pleased that Fabio’s professionalism, friendliness, and sense of humor contributed to a comfortable and enjoyable journey throughout the day. It is wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed discovering the history of Pisa, learning about figures such as Galileo and Fibonacci, and creating those iconic memories by the Leaning Tower. We are also delighted that your visit to Florence was enriched by Giovanni’s expertise and passion for art history. Seeing Michelangelo’s David is an unforgettable experience, and we are pleased that his insights helped bring the masterpiece and the city’s rich artistic heritage to life. Your appreciation for the multilingual conversations and personal connections made during the tour is especially meaningful to us. From the historic streets of Florence to the breathtaking views from Piazzale Michelangelo, we are delighted that the day provided the perfect balance of history, culture, education, and enjoyment. We will be sure to share your kind words with Maria, Giovanni, and Fabio, who will be thrilled to know how much their efforts were appreciated. Thank you for choosing to travel with us and for taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another unforgettable experience in Italy.
